What was previously thought to be an impossible
error in U.S. coinage, proved to be possible in May 2000. Frank
Wallis of Arkansas was looking through a roll of Sacagawea
Dollars when he found what is refered to as a "mule". A
"mule" in numismatic terms is defined as a coin that is
struck with a pair of dies that weren't intended to be paired
together. In this case, a States Quarter Dollar obverse and a
Sacagawea Dollar reverse were used together. It was struck on a
golden dollar planchet. Although mules are found on coinage
throughout the world, this is the first time one was found on a
U.S. coin. When first discovered, the Sacagawea Dollar/Quarter
Dollar mule was widely publicized in newspapers, magazines, and
on television shows such as Good Morning America and CNN Headline
News. To date, only fifteen confirmed Sacagawea Dollar/Quarter
Dollar mules have been found and authenticated. The date does not
appear on either the obverse or reverse of these pieces, but they
are determined to have been produced in 2000 since they were
first discovered in the calendar year 2000, which was the first
year of issue for the Sacagawea Dollar. Had they been found in
2001 or later, the date would not have been discernable.

When they first came out, the Mint
reported that they destroyed the coins in the bins on
EITHER side of the press that made the Mules, just in
case a few of the "Center Press" Mules where
thrown into the wrong bin either to the left or right
side of the center press. However, after a few came out,
Dave Camire of NGC determined that there were three
different die pairings - and that was the real reason
three bins worth or coins were destroyed. The story I
heard from a reliable source was that due to OSHA rules,
the Mint, starting around 1998/1999, was supposed to
rotate certain employees to different jobs within the
Mint. I don't know when or how long the job changes
occurred.

One day in April (or very early in May)
of 2000, someone was in the Die Room, having been rotated
to that position from another position they held at the
Mint. When a pressman came to the Die Room, they
requested an Obverse Die for the Sacagawea Dollar. It was
handed to them in a plastic die cover (used in all the
Mints to protect from dust and other contaminates), and
they took the die to the Sac. $1 Press, installed it in
the upper die (Hammer) position, took off the plastic die
cap, and started striking coins. It turns out the die
given to that person was a George Washington State
Quarter Die, and it was not noticed until the Mules were
found in that press's bin. Remember the problem the
public had back in 1979 with the newly issued SBA dollars
- the size problem? Apparently, the Mint had the same
size confusion with the Dies......

Now, although it's possible that the
above scenario took place with three different Presses'
at the same time, there is no way to prove it....Could
Die Pairing # 2 and # 3 be from the same day, or were
they copycat errors, made days later, after
word got around what had occurred?? We don't know.

In the summer of 2000, just before the ANA
Convention in Philadelphia where the "Discovery
Specimen" was to be sold at auction, an uninstantiated story
appeared in a prominent numismatic publication. The story stated
that a Michigan dealer had reported that someone brought into his
shop 10 to 12 mule Sacagawea Dollar/Quarter Dollar coins. The
dealer stated that the person had gotten them in change from a
stamp machine at the local post office. According to Fred
Weinberg "It was a ridiculous claim....., think about it
- if the person received 10-12 Mules back in change, what were
the odds that either ALL of the dollar coins in the stamp machine
were Mules, but not another coin was ever found or reported? If
the report was one or two Mules found in the machine, as change,
it would have been believable, but not that quantity - all in a
row, all in order, all coming out as one after the other as part
of this person's change - but no other Mule coins at all! .....
and as it turned out, the coins did not exist....."
Noted numismatic author Tom DeLorey states "As a result
of this unverified report of a hoard existing, the coin sold for
much less than expected. It was speculated at the time that
somebody may have spread a false rumor to influence the bidding
to allow them to buy it cheaper. I am sure that that was never
proven." The coin ended
up selling for $29,900 at the ANA Auction. Fred says "I
always thought that if that article had never been published, the
Discovery coin would have brought at least $75K, maybe $100K or
more."

Many novelty pieces have been manufactured
outside the Mint by hollowing out a Sacagawea Dollar and
inserting a Washington Quarter. The pieces are then plated a
golden color to closely match the dollar. They should be easily
distinguishable from genuine pieces due to improper weight, a
seam where the two coins meet, and noticeable "golden"
plating. Authentication of genuine pieces is mandatory.